Water-Polo

2. Goals.

The width of the goals to be to feet, the crossbar to be 3 feet above the surface of the water in the deep end of the bath, and 5 feet in the shallow end. If in deep water (i.e. ex ceeding 5 feet in depth) both crossbars to be 3 feet above the surface. The posts to be fixed at least t foot from the end of the bath. The distance between the goals shall not exceed 3o yards, nor be less than 20 yards. The goal-posts to be furnished by the home team.

3. Defith.

The water shall not be shallower than 3 feet.

4. Teams.

Each side should consist of not less than 7 players, who shall wear caps of distinctive colour, and drawers or costumes.

5. Time.

The duration of the match should be 20 minutes— to minutes each way. Three minutes to be allowed at half-time for change of ends. Time occupied by disputes shall not be reckoned as in the time of play.

6. Captains.

The captains shall be playing members of the teams they represent ; they shall agree upon all preliminaries, and shall toss for choice of ends. If they are unable to agree upon any point, the referees shall decide for them.

7. Officials.—The officials shall consist of a referee (assisted by a timekeeper) and two goal judges.

8. Referee.

The referee's duties shall be to start the game, to stop all unfair play, to decide upon all fouls, and to see that these rules are properly carried out. He may proclaim a foul without its being claimed by any of the competitors. The referee's decision is final (note Rule 13 Championship Conditions).

9. Goal Judges.

The goal judges shall stand at each end of the bath, and shall decide upon the scoring of goals at their respec tive ends only, and shall denote a goal by means of a flag. They, shall not change ends.

to. Declaring Fouls.—The referee shall declare a foul by blow ing a whistle, upon which the competitors shall remain in their respective positions until the colours of the side are exhibited to which the free throw is awarded.

Fouls.—It shall be a foul— (a) To touch the ball with both hands at the same time (goal keeper exempted from this rule).

(b) To touch the ball, interfere with an opponent, or take any part in the game whilst standing on the bottom of the bath ; the goal-keeper exempted.

(c) To hold the rail or side of the bath during any part of game, unless for the purpose of resting.

(d) To interfere with an opponent unless he is playing or holding the ball.

(e) To carry the ball under the arm.

is. Penalties.—The penalty for each foul shall be a free throw to the opposing side from the place where the foul occurred. A goal cannot be scored from a free throw unless the ball has touched at least one other player.

13. Wilful Fouls.—If in the opinion of the referee a player commits a wilful foul, he shall be cautioned for the first offence, and for the second the referee shall have power to order him out of the water until a goal has been scored.

14. Goal-keeper.—The goal-keeper may stand to defend his goal, but when standing he must not throw the ball beyond half distance ; the penalty for doing this shall be a free throw to the opposing side from the half-distance. Goal-keeper is exempt from clauses (a) and (b) in Rule t r, and he may be treated as any other player when in possession of the ball.

15. Scoring.—A goal shall be scored by the ball passing between the goal-posts and under the crossbar.

i6. Leaving the Water.—A player leaving the water in which the match is being played, except at half-time, shall not re-enter it until a goal has been scored, or until half-time.

17.

Starting.—The players shall enter the water, and place themselves in a line with their respective goals. The referee shall stand in a line with the centre of the course, and, having ascer tained that the captains are ready, shall give the word 'Go,' at the same time throwing the ball into the water at the centre.

i8. Out of Play.—When the ball shall go out of play, it shall be thrown by the referee into the middle of the course, in a straight fine from where it went out.

19.

Goal-Line and Corner Throws.—A player throwing the ball over his own goal-line shall concede a free corner throw to his opponents ; but if the attacking side throw the ball over, it shall be a free throw to their opponents.

20. No Player to be 'laced in Ofifionente Goal.—No player to be placed in his opponents' goal, or behind the goal-keeper while the ball is in front of the goal-keeper. Infringement of this rule is a wilful foul.